When to use this feature?

Details

Create or drag in a shape that you want to link to a Product. If you used multiple shapes to create your final shape, select them all choose to Group them:

On a Visio page, select the shape you want to link and right-click and choose D-Tools->Link to Product:

The Add Products form will open. Select a Product and then click the [Add and Close] button:

This shape is now linked to that Product within this Project and the Product has been added to the Project Editor.

If you chose to link to an existing product, a form opens allowing to select a Product that is already a part of the Project:

In order to be able to re-use this shape on future Projects, you must create a new Master Shape. You can add the shape to an existing D-Tools Visio Stencil or you can create a new Stencil.

Creating a New Stencil

In the Visio Shapes window, select More Shapes->New Stencil (either US or Metric):

The Stencil will be created and will be open for edit. Drag your shape into the Stencil:

A new Master Shape will be created:

Rename the shape and then click the [Save] button:

In order for this Stencil to display with your SI 2015 Visio Stencils you must navigate and save to the following folder on your machine:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\D-Tools\SIX\Data\Drawings\Visio

Note: AppData is a hidden folder so you will need to change your Windows settings to show hidden files and folders.

Adding to existing Stencil

In the D-Tools Shapes window, right-click the Stencil you want to use and select Open Stencil:

The Stencil will open in the Shapes window. Right-click on the title bar of the Stencil and select Edit Stencil:

Drag your shape into the Stencil:

Click the [Save] button. There is no need to select a path since this Stencil already exists:

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It is a good idea to now Lock the Stencil so if we (D-Tools) release updated Stencils, yours won't get overwritten.

Using the Shape(s)

Now you can use your custom Shape(s) just as you would any stock D-Tools Shape. If you drag the Shape directly to a Visio page, the Add Product form will open and be filtered to the Product you have assigned the shape, acting as a one-to-one relationship vs. a one-to-many. However, you can select any Product from your SI 2015 Catalog simply by clicking the [Reset] button in the Filter and Query section of the ribbon: